Wire line swing



May 9,' 1939- w. c. TROUT 2,157,442

WIRE LINE SWING Filed March 2, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 9, W. C. TROUT WIRE LINE SWING l f Filed March 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/M2M,

, WG. TROUT.

Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PAT EN T OFT-FICE WIRE LINE SWING corporation Application March 2, 1936, Serial No. 66,575

7 Claims.

The invention relates to an improvement in Wire line swings, and particularly of the type wherein a pull line is to negotiate a turn, or wherein the pull is to be transmitted from one direction to another direction at an angle thereto. The present invention has its application in connection with the pumping of oil wells where a central pumping power orrpumping unit is employed as a source of power for performing the pumping operation of one or more wells and particularly where the power source is located some distance from the well. In instances of this sort it is usual to connect one or more wire lines to the pumping unit, and to the individual pumpl5 ing mechanisms of the wells so that a reciprocatinf-v motion may be imparted to the wire lines. In some instances in order to avoid obstructions or for some other reason, or because of the location o1 the well with respect to the location of the Z0 source of power, it is necessary that the wire pull line negotiate a curve or that the pull cannot be in a straight line. Under circumstances such as this the practice is to provide a pivot Apost to which the wire line is connected so that upon Z5 reciprocation of the line the post will oscllate and the power is in this manner transmitted at an angle.

Various types of .swings have been provided heretofore wherein a frame oscillates about a vertical axis, but in all of these devices the cable adjacent the ends of the swing was subjected to lateral or transverse movement which was detrimental because it effected a lateral swing of the wire line.

An object of the invention is to provide a wire line swing whereby the line is maintained at a constant distance from the pivot to avoid lateral swaying of the line.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a wire line swing which will maintain the wire line for reciprocation in a straight line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire line swing wherein the pull is in the same straight line at all times during the operation of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire line swing with a trackway for the wire line so as to guide the wire line in its reciprocation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wire line swing with an oil bath base which is protected against the entrance of dust, dirt, and other foreign matter so that lubrication of the device need be made but infrequently.

Another object of the invention is to protect the (Cl. 'I4-522.5)

support for a wire line swing so as to exclude foreign material and maintain lubricant therein.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following descriptionis considered in connection with the accomf5 panying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical, sectional view of the invention in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan vew of the invention and illustrating the manner in which thewire lines will lo be maintained in the same paths during their reciprocation.

In Fig. 1 the ground elevation is indicated generally at 2 and it is desired that the swing mechanism be firmly anchored in position so that to u this end a foundation-member 3 has been provided. This may take any desired form, but is here shown as a footing of concrete having an extending 4base 4 so as to maintain the swing in a vertical position.

This base is formed with an opening 5 which is provided with a sleeve or casing E therein. This casing preferably extends above the top 'I of the footing as at 8 and is arranged to receive the bushing or bearing I0. It is in this bearing that 25 the shaft or spindle II of the swing is mounted. This shaft is arranged for turning movement relative to the bushing or bearing I0 and may be arranged to rotate lupon a support bearing i2, which is carried by a partition I3 arranged inside 30 of the casing 6. The bearing'IZ is disposed in a recess I4 in the lower end of the post i0 and this recess forms chambers to receive lubricant from the conduit I 5 which is fed from the pipe I6 and the cup I 1. It seems obvious that lubricant `35 disposed in the cup II will flow by gravity to maintain a body of lubricant in the recess I4 so that the bearings I9 and I2 will be maintained in an oil bath.

The desired level of oil can be maintained by 40 filling the pipe 1I6 to the desired elevation which may be as high as the thrust bearing 22.

The spindle or shaft I I carries a collar 20 which will be iixed to the shaft by a set screw ZI so that the collar will cause turning movement of the 45 shaft when the collar is turning. A thrust ring or bearing 22 is positioned beneath the collar to form a bearing between the collar and the top of the bushing I0. A cap member 23 is also carried by the collar 20 and is arranged to co- 50 operate with the upstanding end 8 of the casing 6 to exclude dust, dirt and water from the inside of the casing 6. In this` manner the lubricationV ,applied to the base of the shaft Il will rise by capillary action and movement of the shaft in 55 the bushing so that the shaft will be lubricated for easy turning at all times.

Extending from the collar 20 are a plurality of arms 30 which are connected at their outer ends to a trackway or frame 3|, so that the trackway is supported in a horizontal plane for turning movement. In order to brace this trackway and maintain it at the desired elevation a plurality of tie rods 32 extend from the brackets 33 on the arms 30 and trackways 3| up to the head 34 which is mounted on top of the shaft or spindle The nuts 35 permit adjustment of these tie rods 32 so that the frame 3| will be maintained in a horizontal plane.

The trackway 3| is preferably formed of an angular member having a back 36 and a base 31 so that the cable or wire line 38 may rest upon the base 31 and against the back 36.

Adjacent the center of the trackway are the clamps 40, any desired number of which may be provided. These clamps are held in position by the bolts 4| and serve to clamp the wire 38 in rigid position adjacent the center of the frame or trackway.

Suitable swivels or couplings 42 are provided on the opposite ends of the cable 38 and these Will in turn be connected to the pull lines 43 and 44 by which the power is to be transmitted.

In operation, it seems obvious from Fig. 2 that as there is a pull exerted on the line 1.13 that the trackway and the swing as a whole will be caused to turn in a clockwise direction, so that a pull is also exerted on the cable 44. As the trackway turns in a clockwise direction, the portion 45 of the line 38 Will, of course, travel in a straight line, whereas the point 4B of the trackway will be moved in a circle about the shaft An advantage obtained is that the line 38 and the line 43 are both maintained in a straight path because of the arcuate trackway which permits the cable to leave on a tangent at a point which is a constant distance from the pivot or shaft so that it is always passing a point at the same radius from the shaft The frame-work can be turned through almost Without moving the line 38 out of its intended path of movement. The same is true upon the reverse oscillation of the mechanism, so that a straight line swing has been provided which avoids lateral movement of the cables upon which the pull is being exerted and eliminates the use of additional couplings and other needless parts of the device as they are now in general use.

What is claimed is:

l. A horizontal swing for pull lines comprising a frame mounted to swing in a horizontal plane, a trackway thereon, a cable fixed adjacent the center of said trackway and extending beyond the ends thereof, and a pull line connected to each end of said cable whereby as said frame oscillates the pull lines extending therefrom will be guided in straight line movement by said trackway.

2. A pull line swing comprising a shaft a mounting therefor to support said shaft for turning, a frame carried by said shaft, an arcuate portion on said frame, and a pull line passing around the arcuate portion of said frame whereby the movement of said line oscillates said frame and said frame maintains the line adjacent each of its ends in straight line movement.

3. A wire line swing comprising a foundation an upright casing in said foundation, a bearing therein, a shaft mounted for turning in said bearing, means on said shaft overhanging the top of said bearing and casing to exclude foreign matter, and a wheel segment carried by said shaft and around which a wire line is carried to vary the direction of the line.

4. A wire line swing to divert the wire line extending from each end thereof and maintain the line in a constant path of movement from each end, comprising an arcuate'trackway to carry the line which is of a greater length of arc than the arc of swing, a pivot for said trackway whereby the line remains tangent to the trackway at a point which is constant, and means to fix said line to said trackway.

5. A wire line swing to divert the wire line and maintain the line in a constant path of movement from each end thereof, comprising an arcuate trackway to carry the line, and a pivot for said trackway whereby the line remains tangent to the trackway at a point which is constant and a xed distance from said pivot, said trackway comprising an angle iron having one leg upstanding to resist radial thrust and one leg horizontal to support the pull line,

6. A wire line swing comprising a foundation, a bearing mounted in said foundation, a shaft rotatably supported in said bearing, a collar mounted on said shaft and overhanging the top of said bearing, a frame rigidly mounted on said collar to rotate therewith, an arcuate trackway on said frame, a cable fixed adjacent the center of said trackway and extending beyond the ends thereof and pull lines connected to the ends of said cable whereby driving motion imparted to said cable through one of the pull lines is imparted to the driven pull line in straight line undistorted movement.

'7. A wire line swing comprising a support, a bearing mounted on said support, a shaft rotatably supported in said bearing, a frame rigidly mounted on said shaft adjacent said bearing, said frame having an arcuate trackway at the periphery thereof for supporting the wire line in swinging position, and means` on said frame overhanging said bearing to exclude foreign matter therefrom.

WALTER C. TROUT. 

